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The Chriftian's defire and prayer.

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al fenfe, by which they perceive the evil of fin, and its deteftable nature, and cannot but abhor it. from a view of its native maligni ty: it offends their feelings, in the fame way as filth and uglinefs

LL men have their defires : the real Chriftian has his, and is no lefs folicitous than others, to have them anfwered. He defires that finners fhould re-offend our natural fenfes ; and pent and believe the gofpel; that therefore it appears to them hatefaints fhould grow in love and ful, in a different fenfe, and to a faithfulnefs; that Chrift should be far greater degree, than it can to fatisfied in feeing of the travail of any other men. They hate every his foul, in the profperity of Zi- evil and falfe way.' Befides; In on, and that God fhould be glo- confequence of this fenfe of the rified. These are things which deformity of fin, and the difhonor engage his heart. But moft men it cafts on God, they have a have defires which particularly quick difcernment of it, and dif refpect themfelves; fo has the cover it in a thousand inftances, Christian, and this defire is pecu- which most of mankind account liar to him, and is worthy of par- innocent things. This deformity ticular notice. It may be thus ex- they know to be fin, as readily preffed: The people of God have as our eyes can diftingulfh uglino defires Jo great, and make no nefs from beauty : by this they prayers fo fervently, refpeting them - are fo furnifhed, that they can felves, as this, that God would rec- difcover depravity in themselves," tify their hearts. Create in me in a thousand instances, in which a clean heart, O God, and renew others would have no idea of a right fpirit within me.' The guilt. evidence of the truth asserted, will be feen and felt by the Chriftian reader, while he attends to the following confiderations.

1. The people of God are deeply impreffed with a fenfe of their depravity of heart, for they are fanctified but in part, while in this life; they have a much greater sense of this, than others can have. Their fenfe of their own wickednefs, and corruption, is greater than the impenitent finner has, under the moft powerful convictions, that he is capable of receiving, though not usually attended with fuch terror and malignity. The impenitent do not hate fin, and fee its awful deformity, as the Chriftian does; they dread most of all its fearful confequences, in the wrath which they apprehend it will bring upon them. But Chriftians have a mor

They also have a sense of holinefs, and moral beauty, which others have not; and this affifts them more immediately to perceive the difference between holinefs and depravity of heart, by a kind of fpiritual difcernment, much as we diftinguish colors by our eyes. If fin were feen alone, it would lofe half its deformity; but believers feeing it in contrast with holinefs, behold it in a juft light, and it appears exceedingly finful. And this moral fenfe, by which they more readily know both good and evil, helps them, by this contraft, to a quick difcernment of fin, under almost any difguife it may affume. This moral fenfe is the anointing of the holy Ghoft, and with this difcernment and experience, how is it poffible but that Chriftians, imperfect in this life, fhould be

fenfible of it, and be deeply affected with the evil of it? And hence it comes to pafs, that while the Pharifee congratulates himself before God on his goodness, the Christian scarce raises his eyes towards heaven, smites on his breaft, and fays, God be merciful to me a finner :' or like Job, when he had a glorious manifeftation of the holiness of God, cries out, 'I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye feeth thee, wherefore I abhor myfelf, and repent in duft and afhes.'

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Further: The people of God are not unwilling to come to the light; but they look to God to fearch them, and try them: they watch their own hearts with dili gence, that they may know themfelves, and hence they continually detect their depravity, working in them against the law of their minds, bringing them into fub. jection to the law of fin.' This they find is in them at all times, in one shape or another. Sometimes they difcover it in an improper regard to the things of this world, and a difficulty in refigning all to the divine difpofal. Sometimes in an unfpiritual and languid frame of mind towards God, fo that they cannot be fervent in their devotions. Sometimes in the eafe by which they fuffer themselves to be furprised, and led aftray by temptation, to neglect their duty and fall into fin. Sometimes by an uncomfortable dullness, and a kind of backwardnefs to engage in duty; and this they find operates refpecting duties towards both God and man, and affects the devotions of the fanctuary and the clofet. When they would do good, evil is prefent with them.' In all thefe things they well know that the blame is

not to be laid to times and circumftances, but to their own depravity of heart, which is the fountain from whence fuch cor rupt ftreams flow. So that Chrif tians are deeply impreffed with a fenfe of their depravity, which is one thing neceffary to make them earneft, that their hearts should be rectified.

2. This remaining depravity of heart is to the people of God their greatest burden. They cannot be indifferent towards that, which appears with fuch hideous deformity as fin, and fo malignant in its nature. They abhor it wherever it appears, and are most fenfibly affected, when they find it in themselves; and especially because it is always in them, and prefents them on every serious reflection with the view of fuch a conftant offence. Other things fometimes appear painful, and they may endure fiery trials ; but this is a conftant burden, and even under other afflictions, the difcoveries of their own wickednefs and untractableness, are of ten the bittereft ingredient in their cup. This is the cloud that feparates them from beholding the glory of God, darkens their profpects, deprives them of much fpiritual enjoyment, injures their usefulness, and makes them go mourning all the day long; and they know that it is this, they are not ignorant of the gall which gives bitterness to their fouls. They know it is their own fin, and cry O wretched man that I am! who fhall deliver me from the body of this death?' And this alfo is neceffary to render Chriftians earnest that their hearts fhould be rectified, viz. that they fhould feel their remaining depravity to be a grievous burden.

for this he reads, hears, prays and meditates; calls himself to a fre quent and ftrict account, and watches his own heart, out of which are the iffues of life.

5. The people of God feel their dependance on him to cleanfe and renew their hearts. They are fully fenfible, by the word of God, and their own experience, that their object will never be attained, without the fpecial influence of the holy Ghoft, and that it is God, who must work in them, both to will and to do. They know that their depravity will baffle all their attempts to destroy

3. Believers feel fenfible that a deliverance from this burden would give them the greatest relief of any thing which they can contemplate. It would be a relief, if they could be delivered from the various afflictions to which they are fubject, in common with others, in this world; but it would be next to heaven itself to be delivered from wickedness of heart. This would fo open their lips, that their mouths would fhow forth the praises of their Lord. And on this account they thank God, through Jesus Christ, that the bleffed deliverance is approaching, and that when abfentit of themselves; they have learnfrom the body, they fhall be prefent with the Lord, and fhall be transformed into his image, and be like him when they fee him as he is. The Chriftian knows that a clean heart would qualify him to enjoy fabbaths, ordinances, providences, to enjoy God, and enjoy himself in prayer, and in all duty and intercourfe with his Maker and Redeemer. And a fenfe of the relief and enjoyment it would give, to be delivered from all wickednefs of heart, is another thing calculated to render Chriftians earnest, that their hearts fhould be fanctified more and more.

4. That this is the Chriftian's greatest defire, refpecting himfelf, may be evident to him, and to his most intimate acquaintance, to whom he unbofoms himself freely, by remarking how he ftrives, watches and ufes the inftituted means of grace for this end. Could we look into the Chriftian's heart, and fee all that paffes there, and what his views are in ufing the means of grace, we should fee, that as they respect himself, they are to have his heart fanctified, that he might be furnished the better to Terve God, and his fellow men : VOL. IV. No. 12.

ed that he, who trusteth in his own heart, is a fool, and they know where to apply, and whence alone they can receive an abundant relief. This is calculated to lead them to be earneft in prayer, that God would fanctify their hearts.

6. And that Chriftians do thus earneftly apply unto God, with greater importunity for this, than for any other bleffings upon themfelves, muft be evident from the things already noticed, and from confidering attentively the prayers of the people of God for themfelves, which are recorded in the bible. The words already mentioned, Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right fpirit within me,' may be confidered as a specimen of the numerous prayers of David on this fubject. Our Lord teaches us to pray, faying, • Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.' It was his own prayer for his difciples,

Sanctify them thro' thy truth." "And this is the will of God, even our fanctification.' The object of Chrift in coming into the world was to fave his people from their fins,' and this is the Kkk

fpecial office work of the holy grace, let me lead you to fome enĜhoft. From all we have confid-couraging confiderations.—-Con

fider what God has already done for you, in giving you this moral fenfe, by which you fee the de

ered, it appears, that it is, and ought to be the greateft defire, and most fervent prayer of the people of God, refpecting them-formity of fin, and the beauty of felves, that God would rectify holiness, and in making fin a burtheir hearts. den to you, and leading you fo earnestly to defire a clean heart. This is a great mercy, and when you confider that so much is al

The confiderations we have been led to notice, may imprefs this idea upon the attentive reader, that if he has ordinarily any de-ready done for you, it furnishes fires refpecting himfelf, greater than deliverance from fin, and growth in grace, he is yet a ftranger to real chriftianity. Some readers perhaps well know, that they are really more anxious for fome temporal concerns the fupport and credit of themfelves and families, than for eminence in holinefs, and the comforts of a pious family; but alas they know not what they do.

There is another defcription of people, who are indeed anxious to be faved from the wrath to come; they are convinced that wrath is infeparably connected with continuance in fin, and on this account, they dread it, and earneftly defire a deliverance from it. But there is a wide difference between this, and a direct abhorrence of fin itself, as being hateful and odious, and the most that their conduct proves, is that they are not altogether ftupid in their fins. Let me clofe with an addrefs to truly pious readers. You are feriously impreffed with a fenfe of the greatnefs of your de-. pravity, you love holiness, and long and trive and pray for perfection in it; nothing refpecting yourfelves, fo greatly interefts your hearts and calls forth your exertions; and because you are fometimes almoft ready to fink under the burden of fin, and the fmall proficiency you make in

you with much encouragement to confidence in God; you have in this tafted that the Lord is good. Confider alfo, that your labors for fanctification are not vain, but are the neceffary, and appointed means of your proficiency in holinefs; and give all diligence to make you calling and electionfure.-Confider further, the covenant engagements and faithfulnefs of God.-And finally, be encouraged to work out your own falvation, with fear and trembling, by the fupporting confideration, that it is God that worketh in you, both to will and to

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this vile treachery. But to fupport his real friends under this peculiar and diftreffing trial, he tells them, that the Son of man goeth, as it was determined of him;" teaching them, that however dark and painful this event might appear, yet it had been before determined in the divine counfels, and therefore was neceffary to accomplish the wife and benevolent purpofe of Jehovah. "But woe, fays he, unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed;" plainly evincing, that great would be the guilt and punishment of this traitor. This paffage of fcripture refers to one of the most wonderful and important events, which ever took place in our world. It may therefore fuggeft fome interefting and ufeful remarks.

1. The death of Chrift is an event, which has been productive of unspeakable good to the univerfe. It has made the cleareft and brightest display of the divine character and perfections which has ever been exhibited. The wifdom of God has been won- | derfully difplayed in contriving the way of redemption, in which the divine law and government have been fupported, fin difcountenanced, and yet penitent finners pardoned and faved. In this way the fubtle devices of Satan have been defeated, and overruled to answer benevolent purposes, and good has been brought out of fin, that worst of evils.

tion to fin, and his fixed determination to fupport the authority of his law and government. The unfpeakable grace and mercy of God, confifting in the exercife of goodness to the miferable and illdeferving, have been peculiarly manifested in the infinite gift of the Saviour, in pardoning finners through him, and making them heirs of eternal life. In thefe and various other ways the death of the Lord Jefus has been the means of bringing out the divine perfections to the view of creatures, and fo has been conducive to the glory of God, and to the happinefs of all the inhabitants of heaven. For a view of the divine perfections is one chief fource of the felicity of all holy beings. The fcriptures therefore teach, that "unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places is known by the church the manifold wifdom of God; and that the angels defire to look into these things."

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The death of Chrift is alfo productive of infinite good, as it has been, and will be, the means of faving millions of mankind from everlafting deftruction, and of introducing them into unspeakable and eternal felicity. For had it not been for the death of the Saviour, not a single individual of the human race could ever have been faved.

2. It appears, that the death of the Lord Jefus was determined or foreordained in the divine purpofes. This is evident from plain declarations of facred writ.

The inflexible juftice of God and his oppofition to fin have been ftrikingly manifefted in the death-It was exprefsly predicted in of the Lord Jefus. For as God fpared not his well-beloved Son, when he took the place of finners, but inflicted upon him the moft dreadful fufferings; it fhews Ais immutable juftice and oppofi

the Old Teftament, that the Saviour or Meffiah fhould thus die. It is faid, Ifai. liii. "He was wounded for our tranfgreffions, he was bruifed for our iniquities. He was cut off out of the land

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